Nanotechnology has an abundance of applications for the oil and gas industry, according to a group of research scientists who addressed attendees Offshore Technology Conference in Houston.
From non-stick fluids to contamination warning systems, researchers are ramping up the science supporting the tiny particles to bring their use into commercial opportunities.
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“We started by looking at non-stick bottles, such as catsup bottles and mayonnaise bottles,” said K.K. Varanasi with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “We created nano coatings made entirely of food-based materials so they are safe.” Varanasi and his team coated the bottles with their nano composition and showed attendees, via video results, how catsup, mayonnaise, mustard, peanut butter, and other foods will slide easily from bottles and leave virtually no residue behind, yet the coatings are completely invisible and tasteless. Varanasi and his team also created methods to allow the nanos to be sprayed onto surfaces and to self-assemble onto surfaces.
Next, the scientific team applied the non-stick nano science to the oil and gas industry. They applied non-stick nano coatings to various types of equipment that contain crude oil and found the same results. “In fact, we find that nano technology can create solutions for more than 60 complex fluids,” he said.
For offshore deepwater, the nano coatings can reduce hydrate buildup, solids buildup, and reduce foaming to improve flow assurance in crude oil lines. Also, the coatings can be used in tubes that move fracking fluids. Equally importantly, a specific formulation of nano coatings in pipelines can reduce or even remove the need for diluents when flowing bitumen. For increased safety in offshore operations, the coatings can be used to reduce friction and control crystallization in deepwater operations.
“We’ve seen a seven-fold enhancement of heat-transfer fluids with these defect-free, self-healing coatings,” Varanasi said. “The coatings can also be used in heat exchangers to reduce contaminants buildup, ensure that materials are abrasive-wear resistant and that they are thermally stable.”
Also, nanotechnology can enhance casing cement, said C. Vipulanandan, a research scientist with the University of Houston. “Cement contamination affects setting and durability, and we want to monitor cement contamination during its installation,” he said.
Specifically, a 1% nano calcium carbonate substance added to casing cement increases resistivity and conductivity, so when cement is contaminated, the cement resistivity drops, and the contamination can be immediately measured by operators. Also, nanos added to cement can create smart cement, which will increase hydration, protect the cement and add additional compression strength to the final structure. “Smart cement is already commercially available at reasonable prices,” Vipulanandan said.
However, science researchers who acquire, produce, manipulate and dispose of nano materials must take special precautions to ensure safe operations while using the materials. “Nano material, which can be categorized by size, morphology and composition, typically have characteristics that include electrical, thermal, and magnetic properties, as well as high-surface areas,” said S. Kuznetsov with Baker Hughes. “Therefore, they can create occupational exposure and related safety concerns.”
Personal contamination risks include contact via inhalation, eyes, ears, mouth and skin, and the effects of exposure “are not well understood,” Kuznetsov said. “Prevention is always better than cure.” Personal protection equipment and hazardous risks analyses should be employed when working with nano materials, as well as suitable engineering controls such as hoods, safety glasses, face shields, respirators, lab coats, gloves and “wet wipes.”
As an industry, nano manufacturers and researchers are required to document basic information about their products under the US Toxic Substance Control Act, and to publish material safety data sheets for each formulation. Also, nano waste products must be labeled and processed by approved waste vendors. “Good practices and preventative measures should be used while the risks are further evaluated,” Kuznetsov said.
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